This tutorial will demonstrate how to use the unregistered version of Fraps to capture screenshots and then show how to convert the raw BMP images into a format suitable for distribution over the Internet.

Since the unregistered version only creates BMP images, we are going to use a utility called "ImageMagick" to quickly and easily convert all the BMP images into better formats for distribution of the Internet such as PNG or JPG.

BMP images are uncompressed and not good for sharing or storage since they tend to take up a vast amount of space.

PNG images are compressed in a lossless format which means you save space without losing image quality. You can edit and save to this format multiple times without worrying about the image quality being reduced over time like a fax-of-a-fax.

JPG images are compressed but usually in a lossy format which means you save space but at the cost of losing some image quality. You can edit and save to this format but it is not recommended that you do it repeatedly because the image quality is reduced each time...like a fax-of-a-fax. Saving to this format can save a lot of space but do so when the image is "finished" and needs no further editing.

Install Fraps

Run Fraps 3.2.2 Unregistered.exe

License Agreement - Click I Agree

Installation Folder - Click Next to accept default of "C:\Fraps\"

Start Menu Folder - Click Install to accept default of "Fraps"

Completed - Click Close

Configure Fraps

Click Start --> All Programs --> Fraps --> Fraps

Set the options to whatever you want but the default options are as follows:

Review the options and make sure you know which key is the hotkey for capturing screenshots (e.g. F10).

Minimize Fraps and start your game.

While in-game, press they hotkey to take a snapshot (e.g. F10)

When finished, exit your game.

Close Fraps.

Go to C:\Fraps\Screenshots and your BMP images should be there.

Preparing Screenshots

Run the BMP-To-PNG.bat file to convert the BMP files to PNG format.

When the conversion is complete, verify that all BMP files were converted and have PNG equivalents...then delete the BMP files.

NOTE: If you have no intention of editing the images, you can run the BMP-To-JPG.bat file instead and skip the following steps.

Use your favorite image editor to edit / crop / merge / whatever you want to do to the images.

When ready to share your images on the Nexus Image Share, run the PNG-To-JPG.bat file to convert the images into the best format for sharing them on the site. It is advised to keep the PNG files in your own archive in case you decide to make any edits in the future.